In November 2012, Ferguson said that following her US tour in early 2013, she would go back to the studio and begin writing for her second album which was aimed for a later in 2013 or 2014. Ferguson considered Freedom being stronger and edgier than its predecessor. In July 2013 she posted a series of tweets in Twitter that she is "proud" of her new album and that the "album has been hard to make." She also revealed that she had written songs about her babies. Meanwhile, Ferguson had settled dispute with her former management team, Modest! Management, after branding them "vile" for not allowing her enough time off to see her children. They have "settled their outstanding legal disputes" for an undisclosed sum of money. On 10 October 2013, Rebecca announced the lead single will be "I Hope", initially scheduled to be released on 24 November, one week ahead of the album's release. The single officially premiered on 14 October 2013.
Artwork
The artwork was officially unveiled on 14 October 2013, the same day the audio for the single premiered. The artwork shows Rebecca leaning against a dark wall glowing blue and pink, wearing a lepord-print jacket, black shirt and gold locket.
Promotion
On 1 November 2013, Ferguson uploaded a video of her performing the song live at London Air Studios. For some unknown reason she decided to perform album track 'All That I Got' live on The Paul O'Grady Show on 14 November 2013 instead of 'I Hope'. She later performed 'I Hope' live on The X Factor on 1 December 2013.
Music video
The music video for the single officially premiered on 21 October 2013. The video sees Ferguson singing in an apartment, while other scenes show different kinds of relationships and flames burning inside people, representing love and heartbreak.
Critical reception
Lewis Corner of Digital Spy gave the song four out of five stars. He said: "Musically, 'I Hope' continues the star's penchant for a smooth soul number, but lyrically, Ferguson has more fire in her belly. "'Cause after a time you realised that it ain't easy/ 'Cause after a time you realised that you should've believed in me," she tells her past flame, rising above the ashes of a messy relationship to forgive his neglect. Ferguson's smoky tones are tinged with heartbreak, but with a new-found defiance and another chart-worthy midtempo track in her possession, she is burning brighter than ever before."
